Utility case

ABSTRACT

A utility case formed from a molding having a pair of elongated laterally spaced compartments interconnected at their opposed ends by a pair of uprights. Said uprights are interconnected at their upper ends by an elongated handle-forming strut. A second molding forming a support for a roll of dispensable material extends between said uprights and is removably carried in openings formed therein.

United States Patent [1 1 Nowak Sept. 23, 1975 1 1 UTILITY CASE [75] Inventor: Ralph M. Nowak, Wilbrahan, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Tucker Manufacturing Corporation,

Columbus, Ind.

[22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 427,922

2,740,517 4/1956 Evans 220/94 R 2,821,327 1/1958 Glazer 3,261,498 7/1966 Erickson 206/169 3,283,947 11/1966 Cornelius 206/203 3,754,804 8/1973 Cushman 206/391 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmJenkins, Hanley & Coffey [57] ABSTRACT A utility case formed from a molding having a pair of elongated laterally spaced compartments interconnected at their opposed ends by a pair of uprights. Said uprights are interconnected at their upper ends by an elongated handle-forming strut. A second molding forming a support for a roll of dispensable material extends between said uprights and is removably carried in openings formed therein.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures t I Z S US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 (#2 3,907,105

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 01-2 3,907,105

UTILITY CASE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a unitary molding having a pair of laterally spaced parallel compartments. The compartments are interconnected at their opposed ends by a pair of uprights which extend upwardly from said compartments and are interconnected at their upper ends by a strut. The strut is disposed well above the compartments and thus serves as a handle for carrying the case from one location to another.

A pair of aligned openings are formed in the uprights intermediate their height. A support bar adapted to support a roll of a dispensable material such as paper toweling extends between the uprights with its ends projecting outwardly through the openings in the up rights. Notches are formed in said support bar to engage the edges of the upright openings for releasably locating said support bar on said uprights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a utility case embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the utility case shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in the drawing, the body of the case is formed as a unitary plastic molding. It comprises a pair of elongated, parallel, laterally spaced compartments l1 and 12. As shown, each of the compartments 11 and 12 is formed by inner and outer side walls 14 and 15 interconnected at their opposed ends by a pair of end walls 17 and at their lower ends by a bottom wall 18. The outer and end walls 15 and 17 of each compartment have an outwardly and downwardly projecting stiffening lip 20 extending around their upper edges.

Each of the compartments is divided into a pair of sections by a panel 22 extending transversely thereacross. As shown in FIG. 4, the panel has a downwardly open generally U-shape formed by a pair of side faces 24 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 18 and inwardly from the inner and outer side walls 14 and 15. The panel side faces 24 are interconnected along their lengths by a top face 26. In the embodiment shown, the panels have a height less than the overall height of the compartments so that they are disposed below the upper edges of the compartment walls 14, 15, and 17.

Conveniently, the bottom compartment walls are stiffened on the opposite sides of the panels by downwardly projecting ribs 27 which also serve as feet for supporting the case on a supporting surface.

A pair of uprights 30 extend upwardly at the opposite ends of the compartments. As shown. the lower ends of the uprights are integrally connected to the inner side walls 14 and end walls 17 at their junctures. In this manner, said uprights interconnect said compartments in laterally spaced relation. The upper ends of the uprights are interconnected by an elongated strut 32 integrally connected thereto and disposed substantially above the plane of the upper edges of the compartments l1 and 12. In this manner, the uprights 30 and strut 32 form a bail for carrying the case from one location to another. To this end, the strut 32 is offset inwardly and upwardly intermediate its length to form a hand grip 33.

Each of the uprights 30 has an opening 35 formed therein intermediate its height. The openings are disposed in aligned relationship well above the compartments 11 and 12 and are adapted to receive an elongated support bar 37. Said bar is adapted to hold a roll 38 of a dispensable material such as paper toweling or the like as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1.

The support bar 37, which is removably mounted in the uprights 32 for replacing the roll 38, is also formed as a unitary plastic molding. As shown in FIG. 3, said bar has a generally U-shape to provide it a rounded top wall 40 so that the roll 38 will rotate easily thereon. The top wall interconnects a pair of generally parallel vertical side walls 41. Each of the side walls 41 has a pair of notches 43 formed in its lower edge adjacent its op posed edges. The notches 43 are received over the lower edges of the upright openings 35 for releasably mounting the support bar on the uprights 30. End flaps 45 extend across the ends of the top and side walls 40 and 41 and are angled outwardly from the top wall to dispose their lower edges well outside the extent of the uprights 30 to provide finger lifts for facilitating removal of the bar from the: uprights. In order to strengthen the support bar 37, a pair of longitudinally spaced cross-braces 47 extend between the side walls 41 and a longitudinally extending brace 49 extends downwardly from the top wall 40.

Desirably, as shown in FIG. 3, the uprights 30 have vertically extending recesses 50 extending upwardly from the lower edges of their openings 35 to thus strengthen said uprights and reduce the tendancy of the end flaps 45 to catch on objects as the case is carried from one location to another.

I claim:

1. In a utility case, a first molding comprising a pair of elongated laterally spaced compartments, a pair of uprights interconnecting said compartments at their opposed ends and projecting upwardly therefrom, and an elongated strut interconnecting the upper ends of said uprights, said uprights having aligned openings formed therein intermediate their heights; and a second molding comprising an elongated bar adapted to support a roll of dispensable material and extending between said uprights and projecting outwardly from uprights through the openings therein. said bar having a pair vertical side walls, said side walls having notches formed in the lower edges thereof at the opposed ends of said bar for reception over the lower edges of said openings in the uprights for removably mounting said bar on said uprights.

2. A utility case as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said compartments has pairs of interconnected side and end walls and a bottom wall, and a panel projects upwardly from said bottom wall and inwardly from said side walls to divide each of said compartments into a pair of sections.

5. A utility case as set forth in claim 1 in which said bar has a rounded top wall interconnecting said pair of vertical side walls, a pair of end flaps interconnect said side and top walls at the opposed ends of said bar. said end flaps being angled outwardly from said top wall and being disposed outside the extent of said uprights, and said uprights have recesses formed therein extending vertically upwardly from the lower edges of the openings in said uprights. 

1. In a utility case, a first molding comprising a pair of elongated laterally spaced compartments, a pair of uprights interconnecting said compartments at their opposed ends and projecting upwardly therefrom, and an elongated strut interconnecting the upper ends of said uprights, said uprights having aligned openings formed therein intermediate their heights; and a second molding comprising an elongated bar adapted to support a roll of dispensable material and extending between said uprights and projecting outwardly from uprights through the openings therein, said bar having a pair vertical side walls, said side walls having notches formed in the lower edges thereof at the opposed ends of said bar for reception over the lower edges of said openings in the uprights for removably mounting said bar on said uprights.
 2. A utility case as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said compartments has pairs of interconnected side and end walls and a bottom wall, and a panel projects upwardly from said bottom wall and inwardly from said side walls to divide each of said compartments into a pair of sections.
 3. A utility case as set forth in claim 1 in which said bar has a rounded top wall interconnecting said pair of vertical side walls.
 4. A utility case as set forth in claim 1 in which said bar has a rounded top wall interconnecting said pair of vertical side walls, and a pair of end flaps interconnect said side and top walls at the opposed ends of said bar, said end flaps being angled outwardly from said top wall and being disposed outside the extent of said uprights.
 5. A utility case as set forth in claim 1 in which said bar has a rounded top wall interconnecting said pair of vertical side walls, a pair of end flaps interconnect said side aNd top walls at the opposed ends of said bar, said end flaps being angled outwardly from said top wall and being disposed outside the extent of said uprights, and said uprights have recesses formed therein extending vertically upwardly from the lower edges of the openings in said uprights. 